Detroit Lions film review: The good, bad and correctable from team's defensive performance in Green Bay
Even for players, it's not easy to process the totality of a game in real time.
Following the Detroit Lions’ season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, I approached linebacker Alex Anzalone in the locker room with some questions about the defeat. The defensive captain was still looking over the stat sheet, uncertain how to interpret the overall performance of the unit based on the numbers and the results.
There was unquestionably a strange flow to the game. The defense got off to a rough start, allowing the Packers to drive 83 yards on 12 plays for a game-opening touchdown. Then there was the two-play, 65-yard scoring drive early in the second quarter.
The rest of the game, Detroit’s defense surrendered 133 yards and seven first downs. Sure, the Packers scored another 13 points, but the average starting field position on those possessions was the Lions’ 38-yard line.
So was it a good showing or a disappointing effort for a unit that entered the season with lofty expectations? As usual, the answer lies somewhere in between.
Following up on our morning film study of Detroit’s dismal showing on offense, let’s explore what the tape revealed about the defensive performance.